Shera

The new addition to the Bakwena family

Shera started her new life of freedom back in the wild with her operation and release taking place on Monday 18 August 2014.

The life of a leopard was created to live….free and wild and Bakwena is very proud to have been part of this project.

This magnificent creature was one of four animals held in captivity that were confiscated. De Wildt Shingwedzi Cheetah and Wildlife Ranch was her temporary home pending the finalisation of a court trial, the dental and health treatment and finally the release, at last!

Shera started her new life of freedom back in the wild with her operation and release taking place on Monday 18 August 2014.

This project would not have been a success without the support of all the dedicated stakeholders involved. A big thank-you to Ann Van Dyk who opened her ranch and her heart by accommodating and looking after Shera before her release. John Power, a North West provincial government department ecologist, for confiscating four animals held in captivity and working together with Vasti Jacobs from the Dept of Nature Conservation to ensure the wellbeing of Shera was taken care of as well as assisting with the arrangements for the operation and all the paperwork and stress around Shera’s release. Bob Boden for starting “Leopards for the Future” to protect these amazing creatures. Gerhard Steenkamp and his assistant Nadine Viljoen for the root canals and other dental work on problematic teeth. Peter Caldwell, Old Chapel Vet, and his assistants Angelique Hosli and Cindy Viljoen, for anaesthetising and monitoring while dental surgery was being done and for administering pain killers, antibiotics, vitamins and Frontline. Jacques and Monique Burger for attending to Shera while at Shingwedzi.

Bakwena’s involvement has been support as well as sponsoring the GPS tracking collar to assist the NW Conservation Dept with this project. Shera is being monitored on a daily basis at present and is doing well.

All these stakeholders might think they are just a drop in the ocean…….but look at the ripple effect one drop can make.